Abstract:
This paper makes a qualitative assessment of NASA's High-Speed
Research program and its associated High-Speed Civil Transport (HSCT)
program to answer the question of whether or not this Mach 2.4-class,
300 passenger transport and its supersonic business jet (SSBJ)
counterpart could have value to future military operations. This research
found that supersonic transports such as the HSCT and the SSBJ could
be in production within 10-20 years. Based on the projected operating
capabilities of the HSCT and the SSBJ, this paper presents several
plausible military missions these vehicles could support. The list
includes: rapid transoceanic support of AEF operations and priority airlift
missions; aeromedical support; CINC and distinguished visitor
movement, special operations support, and crisis response support.
This paper then presents a plan for which a future bomber could be
developed based on the technology and research generated by the
High-Speed Research program. This bomber would provide a critical
next-step towards achieving a hypersonic flight (Mach 5 or faster)
vehicle. Military investment in the High-Speed Research program would
yield benefits beyond a next-generation bomber. It would also stimulate
the civil aerospace sector's production of the HSCT and thereby provide
both the military and the nation quicker access to a supersonic transport
capability.